Dennis Webster, Author

Adirondack Mysteries to be released!

2009-06-21T09:39:00.001-07:00

Here is the cover of my next book! I think it's a really cool photograph of the Adirondack Mountains. All the authors and I are excited about the book signings. The book is being published by North Country Books and will be out fall of 2009.

Adirondack Mysteries & Such

2009-02-07T06:56:00.000-08:00

Adirondack Mysteries
I'm almost 100% sure this will be the title of my new book to be released in the fall of 2009. It's a collection of short stories written by 8 others. My story, Blackfoot Joe, is in there as well. I'm really excited because the authors involved will be having book signings where as many of us as possible will be together. Signings are always a fun event. I'll post the exact release date as soon as I have it.

Graphic Novel projects
If you want to see the projects that I'm working on, go to Swing Shift Studios at http://home.roadrunner.com/~swingshiftstudio/ . This is the site of Bill Anderson. The projects I'm writing are Joe Bag of Donuts, Near Death, The Maggot Show and Silent Scream. I'm working on another project that I won't name until Bill puts it up on the site. Anyhow, the art and stories are amazing.

NY Comic Con
Bill Anderson and I went to the NY Comic Con in NY City to meet with publishers, editors and an agent to pitch our projects. We have several interested but we'll see how that pans out. There were all sorts of geeks in costume, B list celebrities and mad crazy artists packed into the Jacob Javits center. It really is an overload of the senses and a ton of fun!

Ghost Seekers of Central New York

2008-10-29T17:24:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful meeting tonight with the Ghost Seekers of Central New York. I'm working on a non-fiction book on ghost seeking in CNY. This will not only feature sights but also the equipment used and the people behind the seeking. Bernadette, Ed, Lenny, and Kathleen had me spellbound with their love and passion for seeking spirits. I saw their presentation at the Oneida County Historical Society and they're every bit as good as TAPS - The Ghost Hunters on the Sci-Fi channel. Stay tuned as I give progress on the book.

The Writing Life

2008-10-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

Comics University
I, along with Craig Rippon, Bill Anderson and my mad genius brother-in-law Rob Thrasher are working on a comic book website portal called Comics University at www.comicsu.com . This will be a site for artists, inkers, pencilers, writers and all manners of artists to network, post their own work, and receive feedback on their creations. This is going to be one sick place to visit once we have it fully loaded.

Comic Con 2009
I will be heading to the NY Comic Con in February 2009! I have a handful of graphic novel and comic projects to shop around. It's geek heaven.

Current writing projects
I have so much on the docket, I'm about to explode! I'm currently writing a Ghost book, a contemporary story in the mold of the Outsiders as well as a couple short stories, and a few graphic novel projects. There's just not enough time in the day to get all this writing done.

Adirondack Noir
My next book will be coming out in the fall of 2009. The working title is Adirondack Noir, although the publisher will be changing it. It's coming from North Country Books, publishers of excellence! It's a collection of short mysteries that take place in the Adirondack Mountains. I have some fantastic stories from MWA writers, as well as members of the Utica Writers Club. My story in the book is titled Blackfoot Joe and involves murder and mayhem. When the book comes out, we'll be conducting book signings.

Writing Update

2008-09-06T11:58:00.000-07:00

Adirondack Noir
My next book is slated for release in the fall of 2009. It's a collection of short mysteries that take place in the Adirondack Mountains. The working title is Adirondack Noir but that's probably going to change. North Country Books is the publisher and I'm very excited about it. I edit the book and contribute a story titled Blackfoot Joe. The book features top-notch mystery writers S.W. Hubbard, Angela Zeman, Cheryl Ann Costa and some fantastic central New York talent.

Graphic Novels
The quest for publication continues with the 3 projects I'm working on. JBOD is a graphic novel drawn by Craig Rippon with ink and lettering by Bill Anderson. Craig used to work for Marvel and DC Comics and Bill has inked Spider Man and X-Men. The other project is a children's horror series that features the art of Ronn Sutton who drew Elvira. Bill Anderson is also doing the ink, color and lettering. The final project is a gritty crime drama in a corrupt city and features beautiful women who kill and an amazing villain that has to be seen to be believed. Rick Arthur, who worked on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, is doing the drawing with the amazing Bill Anderson doing the ink and lettering. I've had some interest in big-time publishers so we'll see where we end up.

The Next Writing Project
I have several book projects in the works. I'm currently writing a young adult fiction novel that takes place in 1979. It's not autobiographical but is based upon a world before the Internet, cellular phones and even Cd's. It's sort of like the movie Over the Edge with Matt Dillon. I'm still working on a prequel to JBOD, a science fiction story and a few movie scripts.

I Am Legend

2008-06-28T15:35:00.000-07:00

I read the terrific short story I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. It was a lot different than the movie starring Will Smith. I liked the movie but the short story is powerful and thought provoking.

Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

2008-05-25T05:07:00.000-07:00

I took my family to see the new Indiana Jones movie and I loved it very much. It was fun to see the older Dr. Jones in 1957. Kate Blanchett stood out as the evil Russian. I would rank it as the 3rd best right before Temple of Doom.

Movies

2008-04-28T05:27:00.000-07:00

There Will be Blood
This movie was amazing! Daniel Day Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, an oilman, a con man. I was stunned at his performance. Bravo!

No Country For Old Men
Cormac McCarthy is my favorite author so I was thrilled at this perfect adaptation of his kick-ass novel.

Mars Attacks
The best part about being a father is pushing my bad and weird taste in movies on my children. I rented this Tim Burton classic and my children loved it. I remember when I was a kid and we'd watch scary movies on "Eivom" which was movie spelled backwards. It's where I saw the classic Trog with Joan Crawford playing a scientist who works with a caveman. Silly now, scary when you're 8 years old.

Comic Con Here We Come!

2008-02-23T08:02:00.000-08:00

Graphic Novel to be Shopped
I'm going with my creative team in April to the NY Comic Con in NYC! I'm very excited about Craig, Bill and I hitting the road to sell our project. I'm a HUGE comic book fan so this will be a blast. I'm confident that we'll come out of there with interested publishers. The artwork has to be seen to be believed and JBOD is a raw and wild story in the mold of Sin City and the Sopranos. I don't want to say too much about the story or release too much artwork until we have a deal in-hand. Then the pre-release publicity begins! My good friend Don O'Hagan is working to get our team a one-on-one pitch meeting with a powerful publisher so I'm thrilled and appreciative for his friendship and support. Anybody who knows me, will tell you I'm an honest and loyal person. Anybody who helps me, I'll pay them back somehow, someway. I'll blog the entire experience when I get back from the Comic Con!!!!!!!!!

Stephen King Kicks Ass

2008-01-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

Cell
I just finished the book Cell by Stephen King and I can't praise the book enough. It's about a pulse that causes cell phone users to go bonkers, turning into zombies. Mr. King is our version of Poe yet we're fortunate enough to be alive while the master is weaving his web of macabre. The book Salem's Lot is still the only book I've ever read that gave me nightmares. Cell is by far the best $9.99 I've ever spent!

The Office
I bought my wife season 3 for Christmas and I've commandeered it. I can't get enough of Michael Scott, the clueless, inept boss of Dunder Mifflin. I roar out load at every episode. I wonder if God planned us to be so diverse? It certainly takes the boredom out of life.

Another Great Book by Cormac McCarthy

2007-12-29T04:31:00.000-08:00

No Country for Old Men
I no longer need proof that Cormac McCarthy is the greatest living writer. I just finished No Country for Old Men and it was fantastic. Anton Chigurh has to be up there with Hannibal Lecter as one of the all time literary villains. I actually felt myself rooting for Anton, the villain with morals. My favorite all time book is Blood Meridian by the master himself followed by The Road. I teared up at the end of The Road and found myself questioning the direction this world is going in. Let's not forget the border trilogy All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing and Cities of the Plain. If you want to know who the Ernest Hemingway is of this time, look no further than Cormac.

The Best Stuff of the Year

2007-12-24T05:27:00.000-08:00

2007 Recap
Here's my list of Best of the year in Entertainment. This is only my opinion that is altered by my lowbrow tastes:

Books
1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
2. Into the Wild by John Krakauer
3. The Alphabet of Manliness by Maddox
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Movies
1. Grindhouse
2. Transformers
3. Knocked Up
4. The Mist
5. The Bridge to Terabithia

TV
1. Entourage
2. The Office
3. Prison Break
4. 30 Rock

Stories of the Year in Entertainment
1. Jamie Lynn Spears - pregnant at 16.
2. Britney Spears - loses war with head trimmers.
3. Lindsey Lohan - DWI's in abundance.
4. Writer's Strike - This will have a huge impact on entertainment.
5. Deaths of Legends: Charles Nelson Reilly, Evil Knievel, Kevin Dubrow - Rest in Peace.

I told you my mind was narrow and this list quirky. It has nothing to do with critical acclaim and everything to do with my personal entertainment. I'm sure you could talk to 20 people and get 20 different answers. At least I don't pretend to like high art and recommend it. I have the taste of a man who loves macaroni and cheese out of a box, plaid shirts and low riding El Camino's.

The Death of Evil Knievel

2007-12-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

Snake River Canyon
The Fonz would never had jumped the garbage cans at Arnold's or the shark in the bay if he hadn't been influenced by Evil Knievel who passed away yesterday. It's been a tough year for my childhood idols who keep dropping dead. First Charles Neslon Reilly then Kevin Dubrow and now the Evil one. Evil Knievel jumped his Harley Davidson motorcycle over cars, buses, water fountains, and a rocket over the snake river canyon. He was insane and a blast to watch. I still remember kids on the playground talking about all the bones he broke when he crashed. Nobody has that kind of balls today. Take that X games!

Back Yet Again

2007-11-22T13:30:00.000-08:00

The Next MS
I'm not quite finished with the next manuscript but I'm close enough to go back to a blog once in a while. It's a prequel to my graphic novel project. It tells the story of why someone would be become a organized crime enforcer and their struggles with bashing in skulls, extorting money and killing. I'm having a blast writing it and feel its the best thin I've ever done.

The Graphic Novel Project
I just received a complete page from Craig Rippon and Bill Anderson. We're getting close to me shopping this around. I won't bore anyone with the details until I have it out and a deal on the table. I will say I'm so confident in the success of this project that I've already written the screenplay and plan on mapping out a game. So, this will have a book, a graphic novel, a movie, merchandise and a prequel. I believe in shooting for the moon in my goals. Why hold back? I ain't got squat to lose and I'm having a blast in the process.

Minimalism

2007-10-11T16:13:00.000-07:00

Farewell
In regards to my writing, I'm going to go the minimalistic route of Henry David Thoreau. I will not post a blog entry until my current manuscript is finished. I thank you for the love and support. Goodbye, my friends.

Into the Wild

2007-10-01T14:59:00.000-07:00

I'm currently reading Into the Wild by John Krakauer. This was made into a movie that was directed by Sean Penn. The books is outstanding so far. It's about a young man who comes from wealth and gives it all up to hike with a backpack across the USA and into the Alaskan wilderness.

Rob Zombie Rules

2007-09-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

The Zombiemeister
I went to watch the remake of Halloween by Rob Zombie and I enjoyed the performance. I would have to say the man is making a name as the ruler of the universe. I love his music going back to White Zombie through his most recent offerings. His movie-making skills are growing with each outing. Having his name above the marquee is sure to bring in the masses of dedicated followers. It reminds me when I was a kid and John Carpenter's name would appear above titles like The Fog, The Thing, They Live, Halloween. and Escape from New York. We need creative people in our lives and the Zombiemeister is friggin' awesome. He's an acquired taste like Grey Poupon!

The Screenplay

2007-08-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

Screenplay
Writing a screenplay has proven to be rewarding and frustrating. It's an entirely different way of writing. It challenged me and I liked that part of it. The hard part is not knowing if what I'm writing is working. I really can't compare it to anything except by saying it's Goodfellas with a little bit of a reverse 8 Mile. Once this is finished and registered with the Writers Guild of America, I'll release the name and further details.

Graphic Novel
I've been getting a lot of inquiries about the status of my graphic novel project. I'm getting close the the "shopping around" phase. Craig Rippon and Bill Anderson are mad scientist/friggin genius' and you don't rush it. It'll be well worth the wait so stay tuned!

Prepare for Glory

2007-08-16T16:38:00.000-07:00

300
I bought this flick and loved it! It's based on a real historical event when 300 Spartans fought back a million man Persian army. It's bloody, it's gory, it's friggin awesome! My favorite lines are "Prepare for Glory," "Spartans never retreat. . . Spartans never surrender." If you want 2 hours of family fun - skip this movie, otherwise prepare for battle!

The Girl with the Long Green Heart
I'm reading this noir novel by the fantastic Lawrence Block. This book has real estate grifters playing each other for a big score. This was written in the 1960's and it's so good, it's sick! Thank God the publisher Hard Case Crime is bringing back these out of print classics.

Harry Potter - The End

2007-07-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

The Deathly Hallows
I stayed up until 2am Friday night reading the last book in the J.K. Rowling Harry Potter series. I shed a few tears and cracked some smiles. This series is something I will never see again in my lifetime. A stunning, incredibly fantastical series that ends with a terrific bang. I won't give anything away. I was thrilled that the ending wasn't spoiled by anyone.

Lake George
I took a vacation to Lake George and the area was beautiful. The lake is bordered by mountains on both sides. I went for a lake cruise and marveled at the water, the scenery and the beautiful lake homes. I also took my wife and kids to the Great Escape theme park and got queasy on the Boomerang roller coaster. My stomach was in my throat after that one. I did love the Tornado water ride. It was insane!

Potter

2007-07-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

Order of the Phoenix
I loved this movie. Well worth the price of admission.

Deathly Hallows
I picked up the last book in the Harry Potter series and will be diving right in.

Entourage
Is there a better show on television? If there is, let me know. Ari is the best agent anyone could ever have. The man kicks ass for his clients.

Pursuit of Happyness
What a great flick! Will Smith delivers another terrific performance and his son does a great job as well. This is my kind of movie. This movie is a true story and it proves you have to work hard and avoid the negative people in life. I love my wife, my kids, my job and my life! I love my 1994 minivan with the rust and the leaky muffler, I love my cracked kitchen ceiling, I love my floppy eared dog. That's what this movie shows you. Forget the negative and go for the positive. That's the way I roll and I love this movie for reminding me that true friends and family is what this is all about.

Writing Update

2007-07-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

The Screenplay
I'm in the midst of writing my first screenplay and I love it so far.

Summer Jumble

2007-07-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

Transformers
This movie was fantastic! The kids loved it, I loved it. It brings back my inner-geek from the 80's when Optimus Prime fought Megatron for supremacy. Buy your ticket, get the big bag of popcorn, and strap yourself in for the ride!

The Kite Runner
Every once in a while I read a book that changes my life and this is one of them. I tell you, you'll appreciate your life in the United States after reading this book. I'm stunned that it was fiction. It read like a true story. It's the story of a boy growing up in Afghanistan. It's a gut-wrenching, heartbreaking tome. I heard a lot of hype about this book and it's well deserved.

Blood Meridian
It's time for my annual reading of my all time favorite book- Blood Meridian. I've read this book every year since 1990. That's 17 straight years and I learn something new every single time. This book is violent, nasty, and brutal in it's telling of a band of rogues out getting Apache scalps on the Texas/Mexico border in 1849. Cormac McCarthy is insane with this book. The Road was awesome but I doubt he'll ever top this story. It's his masterpiece.

Blah Post of the Week

2007-07-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Karate Kid
I loved this movie 20 years ago. I rented it and my kids loved it. Wholesome, family entertainment about a boy being bullied in a new school and his quest to win back respect and balance.

Def Con 4
This post-apocalyptic flick came out on the heels of the Mad Max, PA craze of the early 80's. I have to say it wasn't as good as I remember but not quite so sucky either.

Screenplay
I just finished the first scene of my screenplay and its proving a little harder than I thought. This is a totally different style of writing than novels. I'm excited at how the scene came out and will get through the rest much faster.

Once Again - A History of Violence

2007-06-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

Great Coffee Joey
I watched the movie A History of Violence last night and it's even better on the second watching. I love Ed Harris' character who chews up every scene he's in. He says, "Nice coffee, Joey." The best movie with Ed Harris has to be Knightriders where he plays King Arthur with jousting on motorcycle. Stephen King makes a cameo as an obnoxious spectator. Grab it off of Netflix and you'll see what I mean. Joey does something very bad to his wife on the stairs. I giggled through the scene because I'm a dirty man of the male species.

Holmes on the Range
I read this book and it was really cool and packed with facts on old west cattle ranches. I never knew that ranchers had cross bred buffalo and cattle calling them Cattalo. This is a great twist on the Sherlock Holmes saga.

The Kite Runner
My friend Dan recommended I read The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It's a powerful and haunting book according to The New York Times. I'll dig in and see what's up.

Back in the Saddle

2007-06-16T04:10:00.001-07:00

Return from Orlando
I was out of commission for a week due to a business trip to Orlando, FL. It's great to be back home and writing again. I have several projects that I'm juggling and I couldn't be happier. The writing life is busy and strange. People think because I have a published book that I'm rollin' in the dough. Not true. Unless you're Stephen King you have to work another job while writing part-time.

Children of Men
Rent this movie, watch it with your jaw hitting the floor. This movie is what we're on the road to becoming. Powerful and scary. I loved Clive Owen's performance.

More Movie Reviews & other Crapola

2007-06-02T05:25:00.000-07:00

The Stuff
Oh-my-God did I laugh all the way through this gem horror flick from 1985. The Stuff is a creamy white substance that looks like yogurt that confectionery baron robbers milk from the ground and sell to the public. The problem is the white goo starts eating you and the masses are addicted. One little boy, a private detective, a mercenary force that rides to battle in yellow taxi cabs and a commercial director with a heart of gold save the world from The Stuff. Believe it or not the outstanding actors Michael Moriarity, Garrett Morris, Paul Savino and Danny Aiello are in this movie. 90 minutes of dorky B Movie greatness that was well worth my time.

Altered
I had high expectations when I threw this DVD into my player. The Blair Witch Project is one of my favorite movies of all time. This movie was by the same creator. It was an OK flick with some great makeup. The entrail part was particularly tasty looking. The problem was the plot was sort of silly and the aliens looked damn close to the ones in Signs. How does any director overcome a fantastic culture-changing artwork?

You Suck
Christopher Moore is a writer that makes me laugh every time I read anything he puts out. The man has skills that I will never get, even if I write 24 hours a day for the rest of my life. I identify with sick, twisted art and boy he's got that down pat. This is the sequel to the outstanding book Blood Sucking Fiends.

Next read - Way of the Wolf
I picked up this book by E.E. Knight based on the cool cover and the neat synopsis on the back. I usually don't read this genre but I'll go in with an open mind and see what it's all about.

Adirondack Noir
I've been getting all the stories in for the mystery anthology Adirondack Noir and I'm thrilled with the quality and excellence of these stories. My particular story has to do with a Bigfoot hunter in the Adirondacks whose found murdered. It's like a Scooby Doo mystery without the Mystery Machine, Scooby Doo, Velma, Fred, Daphne and Shaggy. Other than that, it's just like one.

The Thin Man

2007-05-27T12:56:00.000-07:00

An Oldie but a Goodie
I rented Return of the Thin Man. I thoroughly enjoyed this detective romp featuring Nick and Nora Charles as the husband and wife mystery-solving team. This movie came out in 1936 and has a very young James Stewart. The dialogue is snappy and the plot tight - right until the end.

The Quiet Man
I watched this late into the night. John Wayne plays Trooper Thorne who returns to Ireland. This also has Catherine O'Hara as the fire-tempered redheaded Irish girl. I guess this was my weekend to watch old movies. Sometimes the simplest movies make me smile. Mindless fluff is okay once in a while.

Shrek the 3rd
I took my wife and kids to see this movie and we all roared all the way through it. My favorite is Puss-In-Boots. He gives that sad little kitty with the big eyes then, "Whoosh" he takes out his little kitty sword. Well worth the 28 bucks I slapped down for the matinee price. The candy and soda cost me as much as the tickets. Next time I go to the movies, I'm going to create a fake beer belly and load up with cold cuts, chips, soda, and chocolate chip cookies. Take that you expensive over-the-counter treats!!

Utica Film Festival

2007-05-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

The Utica Film Festival
David Dellecese is a talented movie maker who's written, directed and filmed many independent movies including his newest Anchor Eddy's. I went to the premier and laughed along with the packed house. Mr. Dellecese is now starting a film festival in Utica, NY. It will be a fantastic event. You can check out his website at www.cityofutica.com/uff/index.html

Fishing and God

2007-05-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

Black Lake
I go fishing every year with my father, brothers and best friends. Us hearty men go manly with cabins on Black Lake which is in northern NY state. The wives stay home by choice so we salty manly men of man are alone to drink bear, smoke cigars, tell dirty jokes, and possibly fish. We don't go Iron John and beat drums naked in the woods but close. We have a great time filled with laughs and stupid stunts to laugh about. We all are responsible fisherman who release all caught fish unharmed. I won't keep something unless I plan to eat it. I marvel at the beauty of the water, the birds and the fish and know a God somewhere created this special place. Now that I'm done boring you with mumbo jumbo, I need to take a shower and scrub the trip off my body.

Kibbles & Bits

2007-04-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

Eragon
I have read both Eragon and Eldest so I was excited to rent the movie Eragon. The end result was disappointment. I thought the Urgals looked like bloated cooks and the Shade looked like he needed some chapstick. I thought Saphira the dragon and Brom were excellent but not enough to get a passing grade.

Book and the Movie
I just finished reading the Club Dumas and it was excellent. The movie based on this book was called The Ninth Gate and starred Johnny Depp. I thought they were both great but very different. It's rare that any movie is better than a book. There's too much in a large book that has to be squeezed into a 120 minute movie.

Stray Shopping Carts

2007-04-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

Winner of Odd Book Title
The book Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America has won the Bookseller/Diagram prize for the oddest book title. This book is a hilarious view of random smashed and abandoned shopping carts with profiles of the styles and damages from trains, plows and rain. You can check it out by going to www.strayshoppingcart.com . Other titles up for consideration were Tattooed Mountain Women and Spoon Boxes of Daghestan and How Green Were the Nazi's?. As a writer, I often struggle with the title of a novel I'm writing. Sometimes, when I'm browsing the local bookstore, I'll be sucked in by a title. That's how I discovered the fantastical Christopher Moore. I grabbed The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove and have been hooked on him ever since. My next book to read is his newest release You Suck which is the follow up to the outstanding Bloodsucking Fiends.

Adirondack Noir

2007-04-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Short Story
I just finished the first version of my short fiction mystery story for the Adirondack Noir mystery anthology. It's about a Bigfoot hunter found murdered in the Adirondack mountains. I had a lot of fun writing it but I'm ready to get back to novel writing. I'm used to spreading out a story and funneling the action to the end. I found it very difficult to do in 10,000 words.

Grindhouse
I went with my buddies Dave and Mike last night to see the new movie Grindhouse. It was fantastic! The first movie was Planet Terror and featured zombies getting blown to bits with the second movie Death Proof showing that Kurt Russell is the man! If you like gore, thrills, and gaping plot holes -this is the movie for you. It's a throw back to the B movies I loved in my youth.

The Road is the pick

2007-04-01T11:21:00.000-07:00

Oprah
Was I surprised to see the latest book pick by Oprah. She chose The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I have said it was the best book I read last year. Steven King picked it as his number one book of 2006. I never thought I'd be in such great company. They're right that it's a fantastic book. Bleak, terrifying and emotional.

Cemetery Dance
I love this magazine. Bev Vincent's "From the Dead Zone" alone is worth the price yet its filled with great short stories, book reviews, movie reviews and general fun in the horror genre.

Borat
Why would I laugh at this movie? It was so wrong yet I pissed myself. People can say the dumbest things in front of a camera. There's nothing like making a horse's ass in front of millions of people.

Another Round of Stuff

2007-03-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

My Super Sweet 16
This has to be the worst show I've ever watched. I wish someone would bang a gong and end reality television. This show airs on MTV and shows super rich, spoiled girls and their temper tantrum exploits as they prepare their sweet 16 birthday party. I could have all the tea in China and I wouldn't throw my daughter a part like these spoiled brats. It's like Caligula but with BMW's, Caviar and breath-holding hissy fits. This show has to be seen to be believed.

The Departed
What a great friggin' movie. Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlburg lead a cast in a phenomenal work of art brought to you by the master of film - Martin Scorsese. I can see why this won an Oscar for best picture. I loved every minute of this Boston, blood-soaked, gangster flick.

Casino Royale
I LOOOOVEE James Bond. I thought Brosnan was cool so I was a little set back about Daniel Craig. A blonde Bond? Well, I watched it and loved it. It's a throwback to From Russia with Love where there's more story than gadgets. Daniel Craig kicked ass! This, along with Batman has rebooted into excellence.

The Pick of Destiny

2007-03-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

Tenacious D
I rented the movie Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny and I loved it. Jack Black is a fantastic comedic actor. I loved Kyle Gas as well. The songs cracked me up as well as the showdown with the Devil at the end. If you want a 90 minutes of gut busting fun, get this movie but watch out that the young ones don't watch this. It's not School of Rock 2. There's a lot of foul language and drug use.

Flags of Our Fathers
This is a great movie by the awesome Clint Eastwood. It tells the scene behind the famous photograph.

The Club Dumas
I'm reading this book and it's terrific. There was a movie called The Ninth Gate with Johnny Depp that was based on this book. Corso is one creepy book detective. He's as sneaky as a mongoose and witty as a rat.

Blood n' Gore

2007-03-10T15:42:00.000-08:00

Saw 3
I rented and watched the movie Saw 3 and I must be getting soft in my old age for I was getting a little queasy from the gore, blood and torture. I have always loved monster movies, horror movies, thrillers, action so I'm jaded. This thing was almost a snuff film.

Cob Web
Now that I'm the big 40 years old, my kids can't stop teasing me about how old I am. I had told my kids that when I was in high school I had friends that called me Webslinger because my last name being Webster. Well, my son didn't miss a beat and said, "Your so old, we should call you CobWeb." Nothing like getting teased by your children.

The Short Story
Well, I'm a good 7,000 words into my short story for Adirondack Noir. I'm writing a murder mystery that involves Bigfoot in a small Adirondack town. It's like a northern episode of Scooby Doo but done with the Webster flair.

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown

2007-03-03T14:25:00.000-08:00

Fire
If you remember the early 80's, MTV videos that were listed as "closet classics." I remember seeing the video for "Fire" by a band by the name of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. It's a loopy, trippy video that you can't forget. They took a lot of LSD in the 60's. You can see the video by going to myspace profile at www.myspace.com/mysterywriterdennis. Just click on the video image and it'll play. Prepare to be?

Flyboys
I rented this movie and enjoyed the World War I flying aces battling for air supremacy were fantastic. The gooey scenes with the French girl were a little on the fluff side but overall a nice movie.

The Godfather
Wow, is this book fantastic. Strange, I've never seen the movie or read the book. You think with me being a mystery writer, I'd have read this by now. The only problem is I work a full time job, take MBA classes and coach my kids in sports. Not a lot of time for reading or writing. Like Conan the barbarian said, "Time enough for rest in the grave."

Adirondack Noir

2007-02-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

Mystery Anthology
I'm writing a 5,000 - 10,000 short mystery story that takes place in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. This will be amongst several other stories written compiled into an anthology called Adirondack Noir. I've never been a short story writer but I'm having a great time.

The Godfather
I'm reading the original book by Mario Puzo and I can see why it's a masterpiece. Compelling and hard to put down. I've never seen the movies so I'll do that after I finish the book.

The Evil Dead 2
I bought the DVD of this gem that I hadn't watched in almost 20 years and it's still fantastic. This was when special effects were cables, wires, latex, Karo syrup blood not CGI.

My Space
I've spruced up my profile at MySpace. The photo is instead the rough draft of my graphic novel. Go and see the genius that's Craig Rippon and Bill Anderson at www.myspace.com/mysterywriterdennis .

Pot Luck O'Stuff

2007-02-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

Evil Dead 2
I haven't watched this movie close to twenty years. I forgot what great fun this is and am excited to hear there might be an Evil Dead 4 (a re imaging) in 2008. Deadites unite and celebrate!

Crank
Is there a better action star than the bald-headed Jason Statham? I loved Crank but it's not for the weak-hearted. It's 1.5 hours of blood, beer, babes, violence and mayhem. I loved this flick with all my lowbrow taste.

MySpace
I updated my page on MySpace. I threw a cool blood-splattered wallpaper along with a cool video of Johnny Cash. Check it out at www.myspace.com/mysterywriterdennis.

Manga
I and fellow members of the Utica Writer's Club will be at the New Hartford, NY, Barnes and Noble on Saturday, February 17th, 1pm, to teach kids how to write and draw a Manga character. This Japanese style of cartoons are taking the USA by storm.

Bruce Campbell is God

2007-02-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

My Favorite "B" Star
Well I just finished the books If Chins Could Kill and Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way and I loved every single printed word. I've read and watched everything Bruce has ever done. I watched the original Evil Dead last night along with a few episodes of Brisco County, Jr. You can check out Bruce in his great new Old Spice commercial at his website www.bruce-campbell.com. Bruce has a huge cult following and I'm proud to be amongst the Deadites.

Superman Returns
My wife and I really enjoyed this flick. Kevin Spacey made a great Lex Luthor. This should spin into a cool new direction. Perhaps the return of Zod!!

Why? Why? Why?
What the hell do I know in this sonofabitchin world? Nuttin'. Just keep on truckin'.

Cormac McCarthy

2007-01-26T15:19:00.000-08:00

The Road
Entertainment Weekly declared it the number one book of 2006. Stephen King said it was #1 on the top ten books he read all last year. The book is by Cormac McCarthy and it's title is The Road. Well, it was a Christmas present from my wife. I finished it today. What's my opinion? It's one of the most powerful books I have ever read. Another book by Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian, is the best book I have ever read. When I read the last pages of The Road, tears welled up in my eyes. Writer's like McCarthy put people like me to shame. Savant writers like McCarthy, King, Koontz and Collins are not of this earth. I don't think people can understand just how difficult it is to write a novel, let alone one so incredible. I love reading fantastic books then I'm like the dude in Amadeus who sees Mozart and realizes he's a no talent hack. God alone gives people this kind of talent. Much like music, art, singing - all God-given talent.

Two for the Money

2007-01-14T07:08:00.000-08:00

Max Allan Collins
I just finished reading the outstanding book Two for the Money by the legendary Max Allan Collins. Nolan is the main character. Don't ask what his first name is because he doesn't have one. Nolan is the toughest, savviest sonofabitch out there. Don't cross him because he'll get you. I love all Noir and this is another fantastic book put out by Hard Case Crime. I've yet to be dissapointed by any of these books.

Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way
I'm now reading the book by Bruce Campbell- Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way. It's a funny spoof on making movies and the entire method acting mores. No doubt that Bruce can write some very funny stuff.

Night at the Museum
I took my children to see this gem and I loved it. Wholesome family entertainment by one of my favorites - Ben Stiller.

The Devil Wears Prada
If Meryl Streep doesn't win the Oscar for this role, it a rip off. She's evil, she's ruthless, she's the boss from hell. She chews up the screen every time she's on there. Amazing friggin' performance. I put her character on the villian scale right up there with Hannibal Lecter. That's how good it is.

My Novel
Yup. I'm still writing. It's harder than ever to squeeze in the free time yet I'm compelled to do it. I get miserable if I don't get to sit down and crack some words off. Some people go to a therapist -I go to the keyboard! Try it sometime, you might love it!

Youth Writing Workshop
I'm a member of the Utica Writer's Club. We'll be conducting a youth writer's workshop at the New Hartford, NY Barnes and Noble on Saturday, January 20th at 1pm. We'll be reading poetry, teaching the kids how to write poetry, and allowing them to read their creations to the audience. Should be a lot of fun on a cold winter day.

Ghost Ride the Whip

2007-01-06T11:27:00.000-08:00

The Urban Dictionary
I'm not a teenager and I don't hang with the homeboys so I'm clueless to the words and phrases used by kids. For instance - I didn't know what the phrase "420" meant or "Ghost Ride the Whip" and finally "resolutionary." You can find the meanings and discover new slang terms of your own at The Urban Dictionary. Just go to www.urbandictionary.com and find the answers.

New Stuff and Happenings

2006-12-28T13:22:00.000-08:00

The Chronicles of Riddick
I watched the movie the Chronicles of Riddick for the tenth time. I love this movie. It's the sequel to the ultra-cool Pitch Black. Vin Diesel plays the escaped convict, Riddick, with the skill to kill. I'm such a huge fan that I rented and watched The Chronicles of Riddick :Dark Fury witch is an Anime' short that bridges the gap between the two movies. This is a cool series but I don't know if it'll continue. Kudos to whoever designed the sets and costumes of the Necromongers. I've never seen anything like it.

Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way
My favorite Christmas present this year is the book Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way by the one and only Bruce Campbell. I've watched all his stuff from Evil Dead, Maniac Cop, Terminal Invasion to Bubba Ho Tep. His last book If Chins Could Kill has to be one of the funniest books I've ever read. I'm looking forward to delving into the new book. It's getting great reviews and I'm not surprised. Bruce is a talented artist.

Writing Life
I keep plugging along on the writing. This can only be for the love. There's nothing I'd like better than spoon my wife under the covers on a cold winter morning yet I'm compelled to drag my flabby body down the stairs to the keyboard. Strange, but I don't feel my day is complete unless I write my tithe of words. I guess other writers can understand this compulsion. Who knows or cares if I'm creating anything worthy. Actually, I can't, and never will, write anything that will win any sort of prize. I'm white trash in my taste of foods, books, and writing. No Fotu, Budda spewing tomes of atonement here. Just a blast to the balls whilst eating hot dogs and mac and cheese out of a crushed box. A little wrestling on the tube whilst I pick belly button lint out with the handle of my fork. Sauce stains on my t-shirt. Hole in sock. Big toe sticking out.

Maddox

2006-12-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

The Alphabet of Manliness
I just read the new book by Maddox called The Alphabet of Manliness. I have to say I roared all the way through it. I read a few of the passages to my wife and she bolted from the room saying, "That's not funny." only to return to ask, "What is that book?" and "Where did you buy that book?" also "Where did you get the money to buy that book?" I tell you, this tome has some really nasty stuff in it and I showed my immaturity by laughing all the way through it. It's got chapter titles like, "G is for Gas", "R is for Road Rage" and my personal favorite, "N is for Chuck Norris." This genre is what's being called Fraternity Satire or "Fratire." Would I recommend this book to a friend? yes. Would I ever want my daughters dating Maddox? Hell no!

Little Man
Why did I laugh at this? It's so stupid, yet so funny. This comic gem by the Wayans brothers tells the story of a pint-sized criminal posing as a baby. It reminded me of the Bugs Bunny baby Finster cartoons. I left my low IQ at the door on this one. Really, really low brow humor.

Youth Writer's Workshop
I'm a member of the Utica Writer's Club and we're conducting a workshop for kids this January, 20th at 1pm at the New Hartford, NY, Barnes and Noble. The group will be reading examples and working with the kids to create their own poetry followed by a public reading. Reading and writing is a skill most important in the development of a child. I'll be reading a selection from The Hobbit. Should be a lot of fun and I expect a large crowd since kids get a little cabin fever in the Mohawk Valley during the winter.

Graphic Novel?
Very soon I will have the finished cover design for my graphic novel project. I'll be placing this on my website www.denniswebster.com for some pre-published buzz. The preliminary work by Craig Rippon and Bill Anderson are as Hippies say, "Far Out!" Stay Tuned.

This is Your Mission. . .

2006-12-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

Mission Impossible 3
I just watched the movie Mission Impossible 3 starring Tom Cruise and it's my favorite of the series. I can't understand how this wasn't a bigger hit. Could jumping on Oprah's couch really make that much of an impact? I've been a Tom Cruise fan since I was in high school and watched All the Right Moves. This 3rd installment involved getting the "Rabbit's Foot." What is it? Who knows and who cares? It's the old Alfred Hitchcock term "McGuffin." It doesn't matter except Ethan Hunt has to retrieve it to save his wife and perhaps, the world. Philip Seymour Hoffman totally kicks ass as the villain. Anyone will tell you that the bad guy is most important in any movie from James Bond to Star Wars. You have to have the bad, bad dude and Mr. Hoffman delivers.

My Noir Romance
I'm still in the midst of my Hard Case Crime book and plugging along on my own Noir manuscript. Is it any good? Who knows. Doesn't matter as long as I'm having fun writing it. The setting is Utica, NY 1959. This was a peak in the history of the city. Population, the baby boomer explosion and massive amounts of high-paying factory jobs. It's an interesting time for me to write about because detectives had to be street and book smart. No forensics back in the 50's other than a snub-nose .38 to the noggin. People drank, smoked, and ate salted meats.

The Master of the Noir

2006-11-28T12:57:00.000-08:00

Max Allan Collins
I'm reading another outstanding book by Max Allan Collins. Two For the Money is the story of a life criminal named Nolan who needs to pull off one last heist before he can retire. The prose is crisp as burnt toast and gritty as coarse sandpaper. Max Allan Collins has wowed the public with his Road to Perdition and other stories. This man's writing resume is absolutely incredible. His son Nate runs a very cool website dedicated to his father - the master of the Noir: www.maxallancollins.com . Go there and see the massive amount of stellar writing Mr. Collins has cranked out. Two For the Money is another fantastic book published by Hard Case Crime. www.hardcasecrime.com . All their books are addictive.

Utica Writer's Club
I'm a member of the Utica Writer's Club. We meet monthly and read our work aloud where fellow members provide constructive criticism. I've met many talented writers through this word clatch. You can check out the club at www.theuticawritersclub.com .

Black Friday Signing
I want to thank the fantastic staff at the New Hartford, NY Barnes and Noble for hosting my Black Friday book signing. There was a huge amount of shoppers and I signed a stack of books and talked with many visitors about my mystery novel Daisy Daring and the Quest for the Loomis Gang Gold. I'm a people watcher so I enjoyed the characters coming and going. And people wonder where writers get their ideas.

WWW.DENNISWEBSTER.COM

The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

2006-11-19T12:22:00.000-08:00

Birthday Gift
My wife and kids got me the best birthday gift in the entire world - the DVD box set of The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. This series starred my all-time favorite Bruce Campbell. I've already watched the pilot and the first few episodes. The series is about the bounty hunter Brisco County, Jr. and his quest to capture the Bly gang. He gets help from his horse Comet, Socrates Poole and Lord Bowler. This was a serial western mixed with sci-fi. I love my box set more than words can say! As a matter of fact, I e-mailed Bruce Campbell and asked if he'd option the movie rights to my book and he was kind enough to answer me back. He said "no," but that's okay. Bruce still kicks ass!!!! My inspiration for the Daisy Daring quest series came from serial type shows like this and the Indiana Jones movies.

Slither

2006-11-18T08:17:00.000-08:00

Slimy Movie
I rented the horror movie Slither and squirmed all the way through it. This is a throwback to movies I love like Critters, Night of the Creeps and The Stuff. This movie was great campy fun. The lesson learned is - don't touch something if you don't know what it is. In the movie Grant Grant (That's right his first and last name are the same) pokes an alien being with a stick and gets stung, thus creating the chain reaction that all the blood, guts and gore comes from.

Night Watch
Well I picked up the book Night Watch and I love it so far. The book takes place in Moscow and has vampires that are in a truce with the Night Watch but something bad is about to happen to disturb the truce and balance between the agents of light and dark. This was made into a movie that I'll rent when I'm done. I found this book when I was wandering the local Barnes and Noble. I find my best books this way. I wander around and read the back jacket looking for anything that interests me.

Noir Novel
I'm getting close to 20,000 words on my Noir novel. I'm a little slower than usual but should have the first draft done soon.

Daisy Daring Sequel?
I've had a ton of people asking me if there's going to be a sequel to my mystery novel Daisy Daring and the Quest for the Loomis Gang Gold. I've delivered the manuscript to my publisher and will keep my fingers crossed. In the sequel, Daisy goes on a quest with her daughter Buttercup in search of an ancient Iroquois Native American artifact. There's more thrills, spills and mayhem with a fight to the death on the Adirondack Railroad to scenes from the Battle of Oriskany. I will post as soon as I hear anything.

Black Friday Book Signing
I will be at the New Hartford, NY Barnes and Noble the day after Thanksgiving - Black Friday. That's November 24 at 9am. I hope to see you there!

Feast

2006-11-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

The Last Project Greenlight
I rented and watched the DVD of Feast. This was the last of the Project Greenlight movies and they ended it on a high note. This splatterfest is gory, fun and makes you jump. This isn't high art and doesn't claim to be. The director, John Gulager, throws in some very cool sight gags. It reminds me of the Evil Dead series. It's about a group of bar patrons who are trapped and stalked by the hungry monsters. What are these creatures and where do they come from? Doesn't matter.

Rian Johnson
I was so impressed by the movie Brick that I went to the website of Rian Johnson, the writer/director, and downloaded a copy of the script. I printed it so I could read the cadence and better absorb the flow. A masterful piece of writing. I love when I read something and am blown away by it. Great writing, like the screenplay for Brick, is what inspires me to improve on my craft.

High School Noir

2006-11-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

Brick
I watched the movie Brick last night and I was blown away. This movie was written and directed by Rian Johnson and he captured lightning in a bottle. I've never seen a teen movie as well written as this. It's like watching The Maltese Falcon for the first time. If you like Noir, you'll love this movie. Crisp dialogue and a plot that keeps you guessing until the end. Even the soundtrack keeps away from contemporary songs in place of creepy mood music. I read a lot of mysteries, including Noir crime novels from the best in the business from Sallis to Collins and Johnson has fired a cannon shot across the bow with this movie. Brick has to be watched closely with no interruption. You can't have someone chatting in your ear or you'll miss critical points to the plot. Frickin' Bravo!!!

Curb Your Enthusiasm
I finally subscribed to HBO and I can't get enough Larry David and his show Curb You Enthusiasm. I laugh so hard that I blow snot bubbles. Well worth the extra dough I'm forking over. I also love Entourage. I wish they had episodes on more often. I can't find anything as funny on regular network television.

Things and Happenings

2006-10-28T11:44:00.000-07:00

Art School Confidential
I watched the newly released movie Art School Confidential and I loved it. It's about a young man going to art school and his struggles to find his inspiration for his art. Will he find his muse? You'll have to rent this gem and find out. This is right in line with other strange movies that I like - Ghost World, Napoleon Dynamite and Welcome to the Dollhouse.

World War Z
I just finished reading the fantastic account of the zombie war. We almost lost the entire planet to the walking dead. Max Brooks gives you the account of victory in his oral history World War Z. This book goes way beyond just ghouls; it shows what happens in different countries and cultures when world-wide panic hits. This book kicked ass and took names. I have put Night Watch down and will get back to that book in the near future. Too many books and not enough time to read!

Chuck Palahniuk
Everyone knows that I love the writer of Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, Survivor, Choke, Lullaby. I picked up his non-fiction book Stranger than Fiction. Chuck is one twisted person and I can't help but read his work. I'm the moth attracted to his warped sense of the world. Check out the master of yuck at www.chuckpalahniuk.net .

Black Friday
I will be at the New Hartford, NY Barnes and Noble on the day after Thanksgiving - Black Friday at 9am. I hope to see you there. This will be my last appearance for a while. I need to go back into seclusion and finish my noir novel.

Mystery Writers of America

2006-10-20T02:18:00.000-07:00

MWA
I'm now a member of the Mystery Writers of America (MWA). This is an organization for published authors of the mystery genre. I'm very excited to be in this club with many heavyweights of the mystery field. I received a thick packet of goodies from MWA including my membership card, literature on club happenings and an Edgar Allen Poe pin. This is one of the goals I had set for myself when I started writing 8 years ago! You can check out the club at www.mysterywriters.org.

Godzilla
I'm addicted to my Netflix account and I've been getting all the old Godzilla movies. Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Monster Island. I loved these when I was a kid so I was overjoyed to watch these flicks that had scared me as a squirt. So what if I can see the wires holding the creatures up. I'd take these over any CGI crapfest of today.

Cemetery Dance
I just got the latest issue of Cemetery Dance magazine and it's a special issue of Glen Hirshberg. I always skip right to my favorite sections: From the Dead Zone by Bev Vincent, The Mothers and Fathers Italian Association by Thomas Monteleone, Waves of Fear by Paula Guran and Mediadrome by Michael Marano. Go to www.cemeterydance.com and you'll see much more cool stuff.

Wednesday Morning Club

2006-10-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

Back to Rome
Well I made a return trip to the beautiful city of Rome, NY for an appearance at the Wednesday Morning Club. I spoke to a full house of wonderful ladies at the Rome Historical Society about the Loomis Gang, my mystery novel and the writing life. These ladies treated me like a king and after my presentation, took me to a nice lunch at the Savoy- A great restaurant in the city. I was at Rome for a book singing earlier in the year at the Jervis Public Library. The Wednesday Morning Club is well over 100 years old and has well over 200 members.

Movie Premiere

2006-10-08T04:48:00.000-07:00

Anchor Eddy's
I went to the premiere of David Dellecese's new movie Anchor Eddy's and it was fantastic! A packed house at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY roared with delight throughout this beach romp. I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard at anything put out by Hollywood. The independent movie scene is bursting with talent. Dave and his co-writer Demian Morrisroe write terrific scripts. The acting was superb as was the cinematography.

The Matador
I rented the movie The Matador with Peirce Brosnan and it was a hoot! The former 007 plays a burnt out hitman. It baffles me how these great movies slip through the cracks while crapola rises to the top. I'm not sure if it's marketing or what have you. All I know is this gem of a movie is well worth the 1.5 hours of your life.

Drive
This slim noir book has to be pound-for-pound the best of it's genre ever. James Sallis creates a world hidden from us boring 9 to 5 people. It's about Driver who drives stunt cars in Hollywood and also sub-contract his services for robberies. He doesn't care what the job is. "I drive, that's all I do." I can see why Hollywood bought the rights to this and will be making a movie. Phenomenal writing in a short punch. Another great book from Poisoned Pen Press.

Next Book
My next read is Nightwatch by Sergei Lukyanenko. He's the acclaimed Russian author of thrillers. I found this book when I was wandering Barnes and Noble reading the back covers, searching for my next printed treasure.

The Poisoned Pen

2006-10-01T02:51:00.000-07:00

Arizona Bookstore
I just got back from Scottsdale, AZ. I was able to get to the coolest mystery bookstore in the Universe - The Poisoned Pen. I left them a copy of my mystery novel Daisy Daring. They had me sign it and placed it on the shelf! Cool can't even describe the place. I purchased an autographed copy of Drive by James Sallis and a coffee mug with the Poisoned Pen logo. You can check the place out at www.poisonedpen.com . They get many heavy hitting mystery writers there. This is a very famous bookstore amongst mystery writers.

A House Divided
I just finished the newest masterpiece by Deborah LeBlanc. A House Divided was a thrill ride. I loved it!! Ghosts, gore and Louisiana mores. Ms. LeBlanc is: Stephen King + Dean Koontz / Ann Rice. Check her stuff out at www.deborahleblanc.com .

Anchor Eddy's
The newest movie by David Dellecese makes it's premier on October 7th at 7:30pm at MVCC in Utica, NY. The movie is Anchor Eddy's. Dave is a really talented filmaker and I'm excited to see it on the big screen. You can check all his stuff out at www.cybproductions.com . Dave is the talent behind the book trailer on my website.

Two Great Appearances

2006-09-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

Saratoga National Golf Club
I had a fantastic time at the clubhouse. I was at the author table with two fantastic ladies. Liz Hartman Musiker who wrote the wonderful book The Smart Girls Guide to Sports along with Rachel Damon Criscione who wrote the Library of Horses. We had a great time talking about the writing life, talking with golfers and having more fun than allowed. My good friend Don O'Hagan was the master of ceremonies and treated us like royalty.

The Mohawk Valley Christian Women's Club
What a sweet bunch of ladies who hosted me at Harts Hill Inn in Whitesboro. I gave a lecture on the Loomis Gang and partook in a tasty lunch. All the ladies of the club were gracious and asked me some wonderful questions about the Loomis Gang and my book Daisy Daring and the Quest for the Loomis Gang Gold.

The Ruins

2006-09-18T02:29:00.000-07:00

A+ Book
I just finished reading The Ruins by Scott Smith and I have to say the book is an A+. Scott Smith wrote the excellent book A Simple Plan thirteen years ago. I'd hate to wait another decade for another one of his masterpieces. The Ruins does for vacations what Jaws did for Ocean swimming. I'll never look at my house plants in the same light - ever!

The Awesome Deborah LeBlanc
My next book to read is A House Divided by Deborah LeBlanc. This is her third novel and her first two Family Inheritance and Grave Intent were fantastic, dark, creepy and pulse-pounding. I've had the pleasure of meeting Deb and there isn't a nicer person on this planet. She's a very sweet southern lady from Louisiana who just happens to write creepy stuff. I've been looking forward to reading her latest since I picked it up last month.

Daisy Daring Book Trailer

2006-09-16T04:01:00.000-07:00

Book Trailer
I'm very pleased and excited that my book trailer is now on my website www.denniswebster.com . Just click on the icon on top of the page and watch a :60 movie based on my book Daisy Daring and the Quest for the Loomis Gang Gold. The trailer was directed by the ultra-talented independent movie maker David Dellecese. The assistant director was Demian Morrisroe. The actors were Zenna Monaghan as Daisy Daring, Sean Hogan as Shane Loomis and Erin Higgins as Jessica Suckling. This is a new concept in book marketing. The shoot was a lot of fun!!

Upcoming Appearances
Tuesday, September 19th, I will be at Harts Hill Inn in Whitesboro, NY, 12 noon to give a talk on the Loomis Gang and do a book signing. This is for the Christian Women's Club monthly meeting. The Loomis Gang fascinates people. History unique in the US and A and it's right here in the Mohawk Valley.

The Controversial Movie

2006-09-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

Cannibal Holocaust
I watched the horror movie Cannibal Holocaust and it's the most disturbing thing I've ever watched. It's about a group of filmakers who go into the "Green Inferno" of the jungle to film stoneage cannibal tribes and their daily lives. Of course the filmakers aren't happy with the docile tribe so they prod and push them into brutality with deadly results. If you don't have an iron stomach I suggest you stay away from this movie. If you have the courage get the unrated version and prepare to be horrified. The filmakers were arrested when this came out in the late 70's and had to produce one of the victims from the movie to prove she wasn't killed on film.

Family Fun Fest
I had a great time at Sherrillbrook Park talking with fans, signing books and meeting other authors. I always enjoy chatting about the writing life and any other literary topic.

RV
I like to laugh and I watched the movie RV with Robin Williams and I enjoyed it very much. It's about a soda executive that takes his family on a vacation in his rental RV to Colorado where toilets back up, raccoons attack and mayhem breaks.

The Ruins
Wow, I can't believe how good this book by Scott Smith is. I wish I had more time to read but I have kids, pets, wife, job and sports, activities and odd jobs around the house.

Back To Business

2006-09-01T02:48:00.000-07:00

Disney Vacation
I'm getting back to business of work, life and the craziness of daily stuff after losing myself at Disney for a week. I ate like a pig, rode all the rides, and laughed and smiled every minute. My kids loved it! I can see why the place is so popular. The Expedition Everest ride made me queasy. I did get to meet Mickey Mouse and the rest of the gang.

Book Trailer
I have to first look of the book trailer based on my novel Daisy Daring. It's fantastic and will be up on my website very soon.

Utica College
My alma mater has a nice write-up of me and my book in the latest edition of The Pioneer magazine. I'm proud to be a graduate of UC!! Go blue and Orange!

Writing
Now back to more writing!

Creature from the Black Lagoon

2006-08-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

Monster Movies
There's no doubt that I'm addicted to my NetFlix account. They have every movie there is and I can rent them as long as I want. When I used to go to my local movie rental store they would never have the selections I like. I just watched Creature from the Black Lagoon and loved it. I have all the old Universal monster movies coming in and I couldn't be happier. When I was a small child, I couldn't get enough of scary movies. I'd be glued to the screen watching Frankenstein then spend the night with the covers over my head, shaking in fear.

Florida
Well, I'm off the Disney with the wife and kids. This is my first time back in 12 years and they have many new attractions. This will be the first ever plane ride for my children. I can't drive for two days down and back. All I'd hear is, "Are we there yet?"

The Ruins
I just finished Lemons Never Lie and it was another great outing from Hard Case Crime. I just started The Ruins by Scott Smith and it's fantastic so far. This is being hailed as the book of the year. His last book, A Simple Plan was one of the best I have ever read.

Utica Detective

2006-08-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Book I'm Working on
My current project is coming along nicely with me getting close to the 10,000 word threshold. It's a detective story that takes place in Utica, NY in the winter of 1959. I picked this time because Utica was at it's peak with 110,000 citizens and plenty of manufacturing jobs for families. I also like the era because a detective had to use his wits more for technology wasn't there back in the days before profiling, computers, the internet and Ipods. When I'm finished, I'll let more out about the title and the plot. Nothing too complicated. Just a straight Noir story - man meets woman, woman plays man, man falls into trouble, people hurt and lives on new paths. I'm shooting for a McBain feel.

Once Again, Ed Wood
I used my NetFlix account to rent some bizarre movies and others I love. I'm waiting for Cannibal Holocaust that is so vile that some have called it a snuff film. Well I rented Ed Wood again and I love it! Nothing better than watching how bad sci-fi and monster movies were made. It's funny to watch a movie like Creature from the Black Lagoon that scared the crap out of me when I was a little kid. Now, as an adult, I watch the movie and its laughable. I can see the zipper down the back of the costume yet I still have a fondness for it. I highly recommend Ed Wood.

Monster House

2006-08-06T12:28:00.000-07:00

Monster House
I took my kids to see the animated movie Monster House and it was fantastic! This will definitely be nominated for an Oscar and I bet it wins. By far the best animated movie I've seen this year. I saw Cars and it was really cool but not quite the experience of this movie. My kids laughed and shrieked a couple of times in the scary parts. The best part was I went to a matinee and there was no rude person talking behind me. Hot buttered popcorn, ice cold soda and a great movie. What more could you want?

Jester
I'm listening to the book on tape of the fantastic Jester. I can see why Patterson is a NY Times best-selling author. He's a master at ending the chapters leaving you wanting more. His writing is like being addicted to a drug that you can't get enough of. Stephen King is right when he says there's author's that are born writing savants and Patterson is one. Heads and tails above the rest of us. Bravo!

Football
Anybody that knows me, knows I love football more than any other sport. Well now I'm helping coach a group of Mighty Mites and I'm enjoying every minute of it. My son asked to play so I thought I'd help out. My hat is off to any person who coaches. You're volunteering precious free time and don't get paid for it. Seeing the joy of players makes it all worthwhile.

Wild Weather

2006-07-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

Wrath of God?
Can somebody tell me what's up with the weather? I don't care where you live, the weather has been doing some mighty strange stuff. Today, we had another nasty thunderstorm in the Mohawk Valley. Within one week we had the hottest day on record and the most rainfall ever measured. It makes you wonder if its the wrath of God. All I can say is, something is fishy in river city.

Lemons Never Lie
I'm currently reading the book Lemons Never Lie by Richard Stark. This is one heckuva great book. Kudos to Hard Case Crime. I have yet to read anything but outstanding stories in their line. This book reads quick and goes down smooth. Anybody who writes realizes just how damn hard it is to write this way. I hear people all the time say, "I can write a book. How hard can it be?" Give it a try sometime and you'll see how friggin' hard it is.

Appearances
My appearances had come to a halt but now September is going to be a boom in me out and about. I enjoy interacting with people and understand my role in marketing my book. You can go to my website www.denniswebster.com and read where I'll be next.

Another Great Writing Book

2006-07-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

Stephen King
I have many people ask me about tips on writing and tools to improve the craft. I have listed several before but I want to give you two that are a must. The Elements of Style by Strunk and White is a thin little book that packs a wallop. All professional writers have a copy of this long-time gem. The other is the fantastic On Writing by Stephen King. Mr. King cuts through the bullshit and gives you like it is. His words can be brutal but they're honest.

The Hills Have eyes
I rented this movie and it was gross, disturbing and yet I loved it. I must have some defect in my brain for I'm about to turn 40 yet I still love horror movies and juvenile humor. Burps, farts, the Three Stooges and Dumb and Dumber make me roar no matter how many times I hear them, see them, smell them or deliver them. Anyhow, if you like sick and gross movies than get this radioactive delight.

Why Am I Here?
Sometimes I wonder what the heck life is all about and why we're on this spinning chunk of rock? I'm not seeking a iconoclast figure, wearing a red robe, sitting on mountaintop, pretzel in a lotus position. It makes you wonder if we're in some ant farm of some alien child who's bored and ready to shake.

Two Strange Websites

2006-07-17T15:52:00.000-07:00

Hitler Cats
If you'd like to see cats that look like Hitler go to www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com . I find all kinds of strange websites while surfing the net.

Fat Chicks in Party Hats
This has to be the meanest website ever. www.fatchicksinpartyhats.com . This guy has the worst grammar in the world. At least he posts the hate mail.

I do not endorse these websites. I'm just putting them up because the internet is a place of free speech yet we get some of the damnest bizzare things out there. That's probably why they call it cyberSPACE.

Family Reunion
Well the Webster clan got together for reminiscence, hot dogs, salads, water balloon tossing and just plain fun. These kinds of events are what life is all about. All to often you only see relatives at weddings or funerals - in between chicken dances and tears you don't get to see everyone. It's important to keep the stories of a family alive so that generations will never be lost. I had my cousin Evie write up some stories and put together a family tree so the Webster's will never forget where they came from. All these wacky-doodle Webster's sprung from the seed of one Harry Webster via Leeds, England. Fun was had by all!!!!

Rob Thrasher Links

2006-07-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

Whoops!!!
My apologies to the techno-wizard Rob Thrasher. I messed up 2 of the links. To see what Rob is up to go to www.cybervillage.com/blog and www.activsoftware.com . Rob is a super-genius with all things software.

Graphic Novel
If you go to my website www.denniswebster.com you'll see a thumbnail of a man's head. Click on this to see the hitman in my graphic novel project. Zeno "Madcap" Carlissimo. This is a rough sketch and not the finished product. I'm the writer of this project with the illustration and coloring being done by ultra-talented Craig Rippon. Craig used to work for DC and Marvel Comics. The ink and lettering will be done by the legendary Bill Anderson. Bill has inked such titles as X-Men, Spider Man, Silver Surfer and Elvira. I have a kick-ass team!!! I'm going to release the artwork, panels and cover design as a work in progress. The title will be listed as well.

Loomis Gang Country Tour

2006-07-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

Book Signing
Well I was at the Loomis Gang country tour in Waterville, NY for a book signing and I had a fantastic time. A large crowd was there to view the historical artifacts and take a guided tour of the stomping grounds of the most notorious gang in the history of the US of A. I signed books, talked with people about the Loomis Gang and interacted with the wonderful workers at the historical society. Waterville is a beautiful little slice of Americana. The big thrill for me was meeting the documentary filmmaker Brian Peter Falk. He was the writer, director and editor of The Loomis Gang a best-selling documentary on the gang. Overall it was a fantastic time!!

Hard Case Crime

2006-07-04T05:55:00.000-07:00

Awesome Noir Books
I have become addicted to the entire line of books from Hard Case Crime. These are gem paperbacks of pulp fiction. All are noir crime novels that pack a huge punch. So far I've picked up Fade to Blonde by Max Phillips, The Colorado Kid by Stephen King, Two For the Money by Max Allen Collins, Lemons Never Lie by Richard Stark and the current book I'm reading: Grifter's Game by Lawrence Block. No fluff a nutter in these books - nothing but straight up hard-boiled crime novels with the coolest cover art I've ever seen. I wasn't alive in the 50's yet everyone is raving these books as a return to the good old days of crime writing. You can check out the entire line at www.hardcasecrime.com . Entertainment Weekly just listed Hard Case Crime as the book publisher of the year and I can see why.

A Werewolf Book

2006-06-30T02:14:00.000-07:00

Wolf's Trap
I just finished the book Wolf's Trap by W.D. Gagliani and it was outstanding. It's a very cool premise of a cop - Nick Lupo who happens to be a werewolf. He's chasing a serial killer. The line on the back cover of the book says it all, "Will Lupo dare to unleash one beast to stop another?" You can check it out at the website www.williamdgagliani.com . If you love a thriller that's intense and well written - this is the book for you.

E.A.R.T.H.

2006-06-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

Book Signing and Lecture
I was at the June meeting of the Electronic Archaeological Recovery Treasure Hunters (EARTH) Club of Central New York and what a fantastic time I had. This large group of treasure hunters had all their treasure on display. I was amazed at the dedication and passion this club had for the search for lost artifacts. You can visit their website at www.geocities.com/tominrom/index.html . The president, Stu Copperwheat found the coolest thing ever - an inaugural pin from George Washington! It's been valued at thousands of dollars. Stu now owns a piece of history. Stu and the treasurer Dave Lofgren greeted me as I told stories of the lost gold of the Loomis Gang. It's the plot of my book Daisy Daring. I want to thank the members of EARTH for hosting me and treating me to their passion.

Noir Detective Novel
I seem to be all over the place with my writing but I have settled on working on a detective novel. I'm shooting for a hard boiled piece of fiction. I have the first version done but much revision has to be made. All I'll say is it takes place in Utica, NY in the 50's! I'm going to have a lot of fun with this book.

Rob Thrasher - Writer - Computer Whiz - TechnoGenius
Ultra-techno wiz Rob Thrasher is not only a talented technical writer, he's my friend and brother-in-law. Congrats to Rob for his second place finish in the Zeromillion.com "Featured Author Contest." This was a nationwide writing contest. I'm not savvy with technology but Rob has been nationally recognized for his brilliance with computer thingies. He's working on computer words and phrases and clauses. Sorry, but I'm a total spaz when it comes to technobabble. Check Rob's stuff out on www.cybervillage.com/blob/ or www.activesoftware.com and finally www.business-tech-systems.com .

Research

2006-06-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

New Book
I gave up my crappy memoir and am now back in the world of fiction. I'm in the pre-process of research. The newest book I'm writing takes place in London 1610 so I have to do a lot of research to be sure the clothing, food, weapons and other items are accurate. I do enjoy the research and the writing. I'll see how this goes. I'm only a thousand words in and I'm not quite sure how it's going to progress. All the fun is in getting there.

Wolf's Trap
I'm currently reading a fantastic book by W.D. Gagliani. It's about a police detective named Nick Lupo who happens to be a werewolf. He's on the scent of a serial killer and there will be blood to pay. I'm almost finished and this is quite the wild ride. As you can see by my reading selections, I like my books diverse and all over the place - much like myself.

Back From the Heat

2006-06-17T06:36:00.000-07:00

Austin, Texas
Well I was gone on a business trip to Austin Texas and boy was it hot! Man wasn't meant to wallow around in hundred degree heat. I did like the rustic look of the area and had a chance to go down the fabled 6th street for a few ice cold Lone Star beers and to smoke a hand-made Guatemalan cigar which made me a little green. I do enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people.

New Appearances
Just when I thought my appearance schedule was winding down, I get a handful more. I'm going to be at the Saratoga National Golf Club in September along with an appearance at the Mini Comic Con in Utica, and an appearance at Family Fun Fest at Sherrilbrook Park. Then in October a session with the Wednesday Morning Club of Rome, NY. I'll put the details up on my website as they come in.

Pennysaver Article
There was a great article about me in the June 15th edition of the Farm and Home Pennysaver of Clinton. David Dellecese interviewed me and wrote a fantastic piece on the Loomis Gang and my book.

Adirondack Detective

2006-06-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

John Briant, Author
I just finished the latest installment in the Adirondack Detective series titled, Adirondack Detective Goes West. This time detective Jason Black leaves his K-9 Ruben behind as he heads to Arizona. I've head the pleasure of meeting John at two of his book signings and he's a great man. He's a retired NYS Trooper and this is his fourth installment. John's characters are decent, moral, nice people. Jason Black reminds me of Roy Rogers, Jimmy Stewart or Gary Cooper. He's loving to his wife Patty and loyal to his friends and community. It's rare to read anything wholesome and Americana. I, myself, could never write in this style. I think it's because my generation are egotist, skeptical, jaded beings. I can be as square as anyone and I do love stories like Adirondack Detective.

Hunter S. Thompson
Well, I'm reading another one of Hunter S. Thompson's books. Hell's Angels is his profile of the motorcycle gang and so far it's one wild ride. The term "Gonzo Journalism" was born of Thompson's style. What a great writer and what a life he led. It's too bad he committed suicide and robbed the world of any new writings.

BOUDICA - Queen of the Iceni

2006-05-31T15:26:00.000-07:00

A Great Read
I read lots and lots of books so I mean it when I say I love a particular book. Well, Boudica - Queen of the Iceni by Joseph E. Roesch is well worth the price. This book kicked ass and took names!! It's a historical fiction novel based upon Boudica: a red-haired, green-eyed goddess who was the true Queen who led a revolt against the Roman occupation of Briton who was beautiful and deadly with a sword. This book is a magnificent achievement and belongs on the New York Times best seller list. I can see Hollywood making this into a fantastic epic. This book was published by an English publisher so I ordered it online through Amazon. Joseph Roesch holds a doctorate in Medieval English Literature so he knows this subject well. I love how Boudica carries the sword Calabrenn which is destined to become the sword of King Arthur.

Cryptozoology

2006-05-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

Bigfoot
The study of animals that may or may not exist is called cryptozoology. I don't know why but I've always been interested in stories of the Loch Ness Monster, The Jersey Devil, The Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot and the Mothman. I'm not saying I believe in any of these creatures I just find it interesting that all cultures around the world have legends of monsters and strange creatures among them.

The Warriors
I rented the ultimate directors cut of this 1979 classic and loved it. The premise is the Warriors attend a conclave with all the gangs of NYC and the new leader Cyrus is killed and the Warriors are blamed so they have to fight their way back to Coney Island fighting the Furies, the Lillies, the Orphans, until they meet the Rogues on the beach. This is the famous scene where Luther clanks beer bottles together saying, "Warriors. Come out to playayay!!" My other favorite line is when Cyrus says, "Can you dig it!" I remember when this came out and it was deemed ultra-violent and movie theaters pulled it. Well, I see more violence on Saturday morning cartoons. There's really no blood. If you want to see something different, pick this classic up.

The New World
Terrence Malick makes movies that are unlike anything else from anybody else. Limited dialogue with just the sounds of the world make this more poetry than film making. This is the story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith. Colin Farrell does a great job as John Smith and newcomer Q'orianka Kileler is amazing as Pocahontas. I was floored that this actress was only 14 when she made this movie. 14!! Visually stunning but not for everyone. If you're expecting fast-paced action then steer clear of this masterpiece.

My Stupid Memoir
Can anybody tell me why I'm wasting so much valuable writing time on a crappy memoir of my loser life? Me neither. I'm halfway through this drivel and I feel like I'm on a cheesy carnival ride and I just want to get off. I guess rehashing painful things in your life isn't the best escapism. I have to admit that when I write fiction I become the characters. I lose myself and trance into the action. It's a very weird process and I often find myself not remembering writing certain passages. I'm almost ashamed sometimes at what flies off the keyboard. I just can't explain it in words other than I'm somebody else doing naughty things I'd never do in real life. I hope to be back to the fiction life soon. I already have a couple great fictional stories ready to roll as soon as I'm done paying my dues with this drivel of a life I've led.

The Death of Daniel Whately

2006-05-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

David Dellecese
I bought a copy of the independent movie The Death of Daniel Whately and I enjoyed it very much. David is an independent filmmaker and he wrote and directed this gem that takes place in the fictional Stuben City. It's the story of a filmmaker who fakes his own death to get buzz for his movie. The dialogue was sharp and snappy and the actors did a great job. I'm no movie critic but I did enjoy seeing familiar locations in the Mohawk Valley. I had a chance to meet Dave and his right hand man Demian and they are the nicest people. I love meeting and chatting with creative people. For what I'm sure was a limited budget - Dave did a fantastic piece of work. Hollywood could learn something from somebody who makes great movies for way less than they spend. You can check out the movie at www.cybproductions.com .

Dinky Donkey

2006-05-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

Black Lake Fishing
I spent the last three days fishing on Black Lake a beautiful body of water up near the Canadian border. I had a lot of fun with my dad, brothers and a few friends catching Northern Pike along with some cruddy Dogfish. This trip is all about the beer, food, laughs and of course - fishing. It's sort of like the book Iron John where men get together, sit naked in the woods and bang on drums. It's all about getting back to the prehistoric world of man the hunter, man the farter, and man the belcher. It just doesn't get any better than this.

Check out Black Lake by going to www.blacklakeny.com .

Dennis Webster
Why is my name in the title? I want to see if it pops up in the Google "Blogger" search engine. No other particular reason other than this. I'm amazed at how fast the internet has become the most important tool in our daily lives. It wasn't that long ago that fax machines were considered the cool new technology. Remember when everyone would fax jokes to each other? Now it's e-mail and text messaging.

Dinky Donkey
This phrase is uttered on TV by an annoying car salesman. Do you know who I'm referring to? The winner of the answer gets nothing. I have to have something before I can give anything let alone something so this nothing is totally yours for the low cost of nothing, however; it's something that will get me everything that will allow me to give away anything let alone something. Kapish?

Writer's Clubs

2006-05-09T16:08:00.000-07:00

Writing Feedback
I belong to two writing clubs here in the Mohawk Valley. I'm the current Vice President of the Utica Writer's Club, which has been around for 70 years. This group meets once a month on Wednesday nights. I also moderate the Mohawk Valley Writer's Circle which meets at the New Hartford, NY Barnes and Noble. Groups like this are important to a writer because you need honest feedback from other writers. I have my cousin Evelyn and my friend Linda to read my stuff. Their honest and have a great eye and I also rely on the writing groups. Friends and family usually are too afraid to tell you your writing sucks. I think it's vital to hook up with other writers and listen to what they say about your work. The Utica Writer's Club gave me excellent feedback on Daisy Daring when it was in the early stages.

Boudica
I'm 50 pages into Joseph Roesch's book Boudica and I can't put it down. I'll report back when I'm finished but this is a masterpiece of writing. A master class in the craft.

Critic
If you notice I don't slam writers in my postings. If I read something I don't like, I keep quiet about it because writing is a difficult task and getting published is one in 100,000 so I don't criticize any writer. You, as the purchaser and reader of books have every right to your opinion but remember that it's very, very difficult to get published. I have tons of rejections to back that up. I would never look down on a self-published book. Too many huge hits have gone this route. Most people I've met are in it for the joy and the love of writing, not for fame and glory. I don't consider myself a lightweight or afraid to criticize. I just subscribe that if you don't have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Kong & Capote

2006-05-06T10:55:00.000-07:00

King Kong
This movie had amazing special effects and is 3 hours long, though the time flew. Is Peter Jackson the man? You bet. First Lord of the Rings then King Kong. I felt bad for Kong when he's captured and killed. My daughter was upset at the reporter calling him a "dumb animal." The part with the bugs was really scary and creepy. I give this the Webslinger thumbs up.

Capote
I was glued to the screen watching this movie. Now I understand why Philip Seymour Hoffman won the best actor Oscar for this performance. It was a mezmorizing performance. I loved the way Capote used his fame to worm his way into the simple Kansas folks lives then he manipulates the killers to get the information he needs to complete his masterpiece In Cold Blood. I never knew that Truman Capote was good friends with Harper Lee who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. What an amazing and fantastic movie. I give this TWO webslinger thumbs up.

Review of the Book

2006-05-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

The Nimrod Flipout
Well I just finished the book The Nimrod Flipout and I overwhelmingly loved it! It's a bunch of fantastic short stories with most based in Israel. I'm amazed at how powerful a punch can be delivered in short stories. This has to be the best collection of short stories I have ever read. Some stories were funny and some tragic. I highly recommend this book.

Boudica
I'm onto my next book and I had wanted to read Adirondack Detective Goes West but I'll read that next. Right now I'm going to delve into Boudica: Queen of the Iceni by Joseph Roesch. This historical fiction novel profiles the ancient Queen on the land that would become England. According to legend she wields the sword that's destined to become the one and only Excalibur the sword of King Arthur!

Shadenfreuden

2006-05-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

Kaavya Viswanathan
Wow, has this been one juicy story. In case you haven't heard, Ms. Viswanathan got a $500,000 advance for two books before she even finished the first one and she was only seventeen years old when she got this book deal. Well, she's a sophomore at Harvard and is now nineteen and her book How Opal Mehta got kissed, Got Wild and got a life! Just came out to a large fanfare and was selling very well. Then it came out that 40 passages in her book were similar to another author's. At first her publisher was going to recall the book, change the passages and put it back out there then lo and behold two more books have come forward that have similar passages. Well now Ms. Viswanathan has lost her book deal, the book is being recalled and will never come back and her Hollywood deal is toast. She claimed that she internalized the passages but I have a hard time believing that this happened so many times. It's a damn shame because I've read that she's very intelligent and a great writer. There was no need for her to do such a thing. Plagiarism is the worst offense for a writer. This could be the kiss of death for her. I wouldn't be surprised if Harvard throws her out of school. We'll have to see where this whole thing leads to. I did read that Harvard is so competitive that there was HUGE jealousy amongst her fellow students and they're reveling in her downfall. This phenomenon of having joy in the downfall of others is called Shadenfreuden.

A Movie, A Book Signing and Baseball

2006-04-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

John Briant Book Signing
I went to the Barnes and Noble in my hometown last night to go to a book signing by John Briant. He was signing copies of his latest in the Adirondack Detective series which is called Adirondack Detective Goes West. John had a nice crowd and I enjoyed listening to the stories of this retired NYS Policeman. I also met his wonderful wife Marge. John is wildly popular throughout NYS and with good reason. Jason Black is a great character along with his German Shepard Reuben.

Everything is Illuminated
I watched this movie last night and I loved it. I'm going to pick up the book. Elijah Wood plays a young man going back to Eastern Europe to the town his Jewish grandfather escaped from in WWII. The dog in this movie had the funniest name: Sammy Davis, Jr. Jr. This was a thought-provoking movie that seemed to have been overlooked. I wonder if it's because the novel was so highly praised? I'm looking forward to reading the book. If only I had more time in the day to read all the backlog of books sitting on my shelf.

Baseball
Well, I'm the assistant coach on my son's baseball team and I'm having a blast with the minor league players. It's fun to watch kids who have nothing but pure joy for the game. I have to admit my arm got a little rubbery after hours of throwing the ball around. My son was thrilled for he's on the "red" team. It's funny how kids put such importance on colors and numbers. Should be a fun season. We're teaching the kids the fundamentals , sportsmanship and fun!

Eldest

2006-04-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

Another Book Down the Hatch
Well I finished the book Eldest today and I loved it. It's a long read at 668 pages yet I found myself captivated by Eragon's training as a dragon rider and the development with his dragon Saphira. The book ends wanting you to read the final book of the trilogy but we'll have to wait to see what happens with Eragon and his showdown with the evil King Galbitorix. The movie comes out this Christmas and I predict it will be a huge blockbuster. I wonder if it will be just book one or if book two will be in the movie? I'll be there opening night because I'm an Elgasia geek.

Next Book
I'm now reading a book by Etgar Keret titled The Nimrod Flipout. I'm looking forward to delving into this critically acclaimed book of short stories. I'll report back later on my opinion.

Appearance Fee

2006-04-24T14:24:00.000-07:00

Pay Me To Appear?
Fee can be an ugly word. An uncomfortable word. So let's get this out of the way. How much is my appearance fee?

Well, if I wrote Harry Potter it would be more than a few dollars. Since I wrote Daisy Daring it's. . . drum roll, please - - - NOTHING! FREE! I get e-mails from groups, clubs and stores asking me what my appearance fee is and I let them know that I'm cheap- I'm free.

What would you pay for author Dennis Webster? Not more than a wooden nickel and I don't blame you. I wouldn't pay anything to see myself. As a matter of fact, you'd have to pay me to pay myself to look at me. See what I mean? What I'm getting at here is what economists refer to as "economies of scale." The demand for Dennis Webster is low and the supply of Dennis Webster is high so there's a low price. But let's dream and say that the demand for Dennis Webster was high and the supply of Dennis Webster was low - then we're talking a fee schedule. I'm talking fives, tens and twenties.

Just to throw a reality check out there, I asked my family over my macaroni and cheese what they would pay to sit and eat dinner with me. Please remember that I do have some table manners and a little decorum (Burps and farts not included). Well my wife said $50. I love her lying little heart. My oldest child said a million dollars and my middle child said a billion dollars. Somehow, I see myself being set up with a Chucky Cheese trip based on those answers. Well, when I asked my youngest daughter, she didn't even look up from her dinner and declared how much she'd pay to eat dinner with me, "zero dollars and zero cents." You can't fault a child for honesty.

Recap: Fee? I don't need no stinkin' fee.

2 Horror Movies

2006-04-23T07:49:00.000-07:00

Hostel
I rented and watched the horror movie Hostel. This was about 2 Americans backpacking across Europe doing nothing but smoking pot, drinking beer, picking up women and acting like the stereotypical "Ugly American." They find themselves conned into going to Slovakia to a Hostel that has beautiful women who throw themselves at Americans. Ah ha! If it were only that easy. Instead, they end up in an old factory where rich international businessmen pay huge sums of money to torture and kill - just for the thrill. This movie is bloody and disturbing and I would steer clear if you don't like this kind of thing. I for one, loved it. The lesson is not to travel in other countries and assume you're safe.

Wolf Creek
This was movie 2 in my horror film festival and I found this a disturbing movie that was based on a true story. Three Australian teens - good looking of course; decide to drive across the vast desert of Australia. They end up breaking down and the wrong person comes to the rescue and a bloodbath ensues. It reminds me of the part in Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy where the Mexicans come across two Americans running for their lives. The Americans call out to get a drink of water and the Mexicans laugh. They tell them, "The lamb calls for his mother, but doesn't know if the wolf will show up." The lesson learned is don't pay $1500 for a car to drive across the desert.

Graphic Novel
Well, the first thumbnail sketches have been sent to me by my friend Craig on our Graphic Novel project and I was blown away. I'll reveal the name and place some of the artwork on the website as soon as they're completed.

Hollywood Dreaming

2006-04-15T07:50:00.000-07:00

Movie of the Week
I watched the movie Fun with Dick and Jane last night with my wife and I laughed all the way through it. Anybody that's struggled in their job or financial life at-home can relate. Jim Carrey plays Dick who loses his job after an Enron type scandal. He's forced to work at a Wal Mart type store yet gets fired from it. He's forced to robbing convenience stores to pay the bills. I loved when his sod lawn was repossesed. He goes around the neighborhood ripping chunks of sod from other lawns to jigsaw his back together. The underlying theme of this movie is that we're all vulnerable in this day and age of conspicuous consumption. We're of a day and age where everyone thinks they're entiled to the life of a wealthy person. Everyone should have everything they want. I admit I long for a new car or perhaps getting my cavities filled. We're of a generation that demands stuff. Lots and lots of stuff.

Spring Cleaning
Well, I have to put my snowblower away and get out my lawnmowers, my weed wacker and all my other spring/summer gear. Time to take down the storm windows, clean the screens, take out the gas grill and perform a cellar cleansing. I hate doing all this. It takes me an entire day but I'm pleased when it's out of the way. Houses sure are a lot of work. No wonder people live in apartments. Just think of all the brain space you can use for other interests if you didn't have to worry about lawn care and blah, blah, blahbiddy - blah.

20,000 Words
Well I just hit the 20,000 word mark on the soon-to-be-rejected memoir of my life. Lots of crap and nothing of particular interest. I never saved a life, climbed a mountain or had tea with the Dali Lama. I have picked up pine cones, ate some Doritos, and drank flat beer. Sounds like a winner, eh? As soon as I'm done with this I have another idea for a historical novel. It takes place in London and will require a lot of research so it might tie me up for a long time.

Hollywood?
What's the biggest misconception of being a published author? That I made millions and I can retire from my day job. At least 72,000 books a year are published in the United States and this number doesn't count vanity press, self-publishing or subsidy publishing. The authors that make enough to do it for a living are very, very small in %. I'd guess 1/2 of 1%. They say that a typical publisher rejects 90% of submissions then of the 10% they decide to look at only 1% will get published. Out of these published books, less than 10% will be optioned by Hollywood. An option means that someone in Hollywood is interested in seeing if they want to make a movie based on your book. They usually pay the author to hold the rights for 1 year. At the end of the year they can option it again, let it go or take the next step. This means writing a script and seeking financing and possible distribution. The odds of getting published, even by a small press, are very high and the chances of being optioned by Hollywood and making a ton of money is way higher. That's why 99.9% of published authors still work a day job. I'm lucky because I have a job I love. I have no delusions of grandeur. The odds of me being optioned and becoming a best-selling NY Times author is about the same as you going outdoors and having a blue chunk of airplane toilet ice smacking you on the head.

The Road Warrior

2006-04-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

Mad Max 2
Well I watched the Road Warrior and I had forgotten how great this movie is. Many critics hailed it as one of the best of the 80's. Mel Gibson plays the burnt out cop wandering the wasteland looking for a tank of gasoline for his V8 Interceptor. I remember at the time that a lot of post apocalypse movies came out like DefCon 4, Steel Dawn, and Cherry 2000.

Bad Movies
A really cool website is www.badmovies.org . I love B movies and I've seen most of the ones listed like The Stuff, Reanimator, The Toxic Avenger or The Devil's Rain. Bad acting, bad special effects and Swiss cheese plot holes.

Chess
I've been teaching my son to play chess and now he's beating me. Granted I'm not a very good player. I read that this game is 1500 years old and came from India. It's popular because there's billions of possible moves.

Memoir Writing
Perhaps writing a memoir is not the best thing to be doing. It's nice to have time erase bad memories and painful experiences. Rehashing stuff I want to forget is not the best of times in this writing. There are a lot of great times so I suppose that most people have good times and bad times- that's what makes life the crazy ride that it is. I could sit on a stone floor like a monk but I want to breath the air, drink the wine and eat the cheese of life.

Red-Headed Agama

2006-04-02T06:11:00.000-07:00

A New Pet
Well I bought a new pet for the Webster household and it's a lizard. A Red-Headed Agama which is 12" long and will get up to 15" long and will live 8 years. I have the tank, the sand, rocks, wood and a couple dozen crickets. It was fun and my kids got a big kick out of watching "Spunky" chomp on a cricket. He's tan with light green stripes on his head with little red tufts that look like ears. I never had any pets as a child so I'm enjoying have a dog and now a lizard. Who knows what's next?

Pho Mekong
I love to go to this restaurant and eat the Pho Ga which is the chicken noodle soup and #N19 on the menu. I'm there at noon every Friday so if you want to stop and see me, I'm the anti-social person in the corner reading a book and eating soup all alone. Pho Mekong is a Vietnamese restaurant in Utica, NY that has the most authentic Vietnam food you'll get anywhere in the USA. I had lunch there with Asian businessmen and they raved at how good it was. Not Americanized at all.

Alone
Speaking of eating alone, I astonish my wife with my being able to eat and work alone. I grew up in a house not much larger than a Ritz cracker box with six brothers and sisters and always relished my alone time. I'm very funny in that I like to talk with people yet there's times when I want to be all alone. Many times when I was a teenager I'd walk to the local cemetery and sit at the foot of the large cross on top of the highest hill and just watch the clouds go by. I find that my best ideas come and the stress of life goes away when I have just a few moments of isolation.

Proctor Park
I love to walk on my lunch from my day job and one of my favorites is Proctor Park in Utica. I love to walk through the woods and by the babbling brook and seeing the trees rock in the wind and the squirrels bounding around. When it's summer and really sunny and warm, I bring a book and sit in the shade of a tree and read with nothing but the sound of the leaves rubbing against each other.

Goblet of Fire
Wow has Harry Potter grown up. I had read the book so I knew what was going to happen but with each movie comes darker themes and scarier events. I was hesitant to let my kids see this movie and was glad I made my six year old miss it. There's a death and the return of Lord Voldemort was as scary as anything a kid should see. My review of the movie was that I liked it very much.

The Punisher
I watched this movie the other night and wished it was a little bit more like the comic book. I liked it yet it went away from the true intent of the Punisher. Thomas Jane did a great job as the brooding man out for revenge for the death of his family. I liked the way he killed John Travolta at the end.

Not as good as I remember

2006-03-29T14:16:00.000-08:00

Foxes
There's things from my youth that I look back on and remember with fondness. It's strange to see, hear or read something from twenty years ago and it's either as good as you remember, about as good as you remember, or totally NOT what you remembered. I rented the movie Foxes and it wasn't anything like I remembered. I saw this movie in 1980 so that's 26 years ago. At the time I thought it was a powerful movie with themes of loneliness and alienation. Jodie Foster and Scott Baio were in this and I watched it yesterday and was disappointed in it. I hate it when my memory of something is ruined. It was okay but not as fantastic as I remembered. Jodie Foster was the standout as well as the actress who played the drug addict Annie. I wish I left my fond memories alone.

Movie Quotes
1. "Sir, do we get to win this time?"

2. "You think I got this way because I dress like Peter Pan?"

3. "Chewing gum is really gross. Chewing gum I hate the most."

4. "What is best in life? To crush the enemy. To see them driven before you. And to hear the lamentation of the women."

Downtown Utica
I love the nice weather because I walk through downtown Utica on my lunch. I love to watch the buildings and the people and admire the beauty. Older cities like Utica have distinct buildings. I've been to newer cities where it's homogeneous where all the buildings are sterile and look the same. Utica is unique and memorable. No two buildings look the same. In the summer I like to sit in Hanna Park by the water fountain and read.

Writing Progress
Well, I'm moving along on my memoir. . . 10,000 words. I find that I tend to write the first 20,000 words and last 20,000 very quick with the middle being where I drag. I start every book with an idea and with a conclusion but I never know how I'm going to get there. I guess that's part of the fun. I realize that nobody but my wife and kids will ever want to read this but I'm going through with it anyway. It's funny how people think that their life is interesting and everyone will buy it. In reality very few people lead extraordinary lives that merit a best-selling memoir. People trust the memoir and get sucked in. That's why it's important to put a disclaimer in the beginning if you have some fact changes.

Back to Eldest
I can't for the life of me understand why critics lambasted the book Eldest. Some called it the worst novel of the year. I love it so far but then again I'm white trash with a trailer park sensibility. I love pork and beans from a can, 80's hair metal, grilled cheese, velvet Elvis paintings and trucks! I like what I like and that's what I like. I'm not afraid to say I like something nobody else likes. I'm a Buffalo that's drifted from the herd and I wouldn't want it any other way. I like it like that!

Quote Answers
1. Rambo: First Blood Part 2

2. Napoleon Dynamite

3. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

4. Conan the Barbarian

Recap of Rome

2006-03-25T13:35:00.000-08:00

Appearance Summary
I had a standing room only crowd at the Jervis Public Library in Rome, NY. I led the discussion on the Loomis Gang and was honored to have a direct descendent in the audience and another descendent of another gang member. I'm amazed the knowledge people have of the Loomis Gang. I followed this discussion with a book signing. Mary Beth from the Jervis library was a wonderful host. The library was very beautiful. I have always loved the city of Rome. It's a great Mohawk Valley book end to Utica.

Adirondack Scenic Railroad
I wanted to mention a really cool way to spend an afternoon. You can take the Adirondack scenic railroad from Union Station in Utica and ride the old rails up to Thendara station. I try to do this at least once a year. During July and August they have Loomis Gang train robberies. I have Daisy riding this train in the sequel! The scenery is breathtaking and it's very relaxing. Thendara station is right next to the beautiful Old Forge where there's shopping and Enchanted Forest.

Metal Mania
VH1 Classic had a two hour block of heavy metal videos and I loved it. Ozzy, Warrant, White Lion, Dio, David Lee Roth and Skid Row were just a smidgen of the great music from my high school years. Sure you can look back and the hair is fluffy and the pants are tight yet the music was FUN. It was all about the girls, the beer and the music. Let's go back to 1987!!!

DR. Who
The Sci-Fi Channel has brought the newest edition of Dr. Who to it's channel and I'm thrilled. I have always loved this show since I was a child. The premise is the Dr. is a time traveling alien. In last night's episode he went back to Victorian London and mixed it up with some zombies and Charles Dickins. What a bunch of fun! I give it the Webslinger Thumb Up!

Down to the Dirt

2006-03-23T14:18:00.000-08:00

Book Review
I just finished Down to the Dirt by Joel Hynes and I liked it very much. It's the story of a troubled youth in Canada named Keith who's struggling to find his place in the world. Keith drinks and gets into all sorts of problems with his girlfriend, the cops, townsfolk and many more. It's a slim volume that reads quickly. Now, back to Eldest!

Cemetery Dance Magazine
I just received my latest issue of Cemetery Dance Magazine. This is the best publication out there for reviews of horror books, cd's, DVD's including the outstanding King Zone news by Bev Vincent. I'm looking forward to delving into issue #54.

Daily Sentinel
There's a fantastic article by Norm Landis on my upcoming Rome, NY appearance in the March 22nd issue of the Daily Sentinel newspaper. It's at www.romesentinel.com . Just type "The Loomis Gang" in the search and you'll find it.

Mohawk Valley Pot Luck
I went to Cafe Domenicos today for a hot cup of organic green tea. I LOVE this place and it's right on Genesee Street in Utica, NY. There was some dude playing an acoustic guitar while all the bohemian artisans sat around pontificating life's great questions like: "did I put the fabric softener in my laundry?" Seriously, this place has a cool atmosphere and a long selection of teas and coffees.

The Man in Black

2006-03-19T04:23:00.000-08:00

Walk the Line
Everyone knows that I love Johnny Cash's music. I have my character Daisy Daring wearing a Johnny Cash t-shirt in my book. Daisy even plays the man in Black's music while working on the map. Needless to say I was very excited to get my hands on the biographical movie Walk the Line. And my opinion? Drum roll . . . Loved it, loved it -LOVED IT! Has there been anyone on the planet cooler than Mr. Cash? If so, point them out to me.

Violence Movie

2006-03-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

A History of Violence
I watched this movie last night and it was interesting to see Viggo Mortenson from the Lord of the Rings play the part of a small town man turned hero who might just be a long lost killer from Philadelphia. This movie had long dull periods with quick bursts of graphic violence. I don't know if I've ever seen a man's nose pushed into his face in a movie and this happens twice! I liked the part where Joey and his wife have a fight on the stairs. Watch this movie and you'll see what I mean.

Dreams
Sometimes I can have the freakiest dreams. The other night I dreamed I had a dozen King Kong gorillas chasing me and they cornered me and I was about to be squashed when I woke up. The mind is a strange blob of water, fat, blood vessels and plaque yet somehow this grey mass holds the secrets and fears on our ancient blood. Joseph Conrad tapped into this in his fantastic short story Heart of Darkness. As the character Kurtz says, "The Horror. . . the horror."

My Writing Day
Well my glamorous life as a writer begins every day at 5:00a.m. It's hard to get out of bed to write when my wife, my kids and the dog all are warm and toasty while I sit and clack buttons on the keyboard. I only do it because I love it. I know I'll never be a J.D. Salinger or a Stephen King. Hell, I'll never be a Christopher Moore or a John Kennedy Toole let alone a Peter Hamill or a Bentley Little. Not even close to a Betty Webb or a Twist Phelan. That's okay. I'm fine with the fact I'm a mediocre writer. I just try to have fun and inject that into my stories. I try to get better every day. I try to make my wife and kids proud of me. That's all I care about. I'd be damned before I'd sell my writing soul for a buck and a slew of fake back-slapping friends. I'm comfortable in my skin and that's about all. I'm happy with my creaking, leaking house, my oil-dripping truck and my socks with the holes in them. I don't own a flat screen television, a blackberry, an I-pod, a TIVO or any other brain sucking accoutrement. I'm fine with my ten year old Pentium 75 computer and my tube television with the faded colors. Heck, I don't even mind eating cold cuts and drinking flat soda out of cracked dollar store drinking glasses. If you want class and decorum, don't come looking to me.

Movie Quotes of the Week

2006-03-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

Quotes
Do you know the movie these are from?

1. "Don't piss down my neck and tell me it's rainin'"

2. "If you're going to waste the bronze, you have to do it in style."

3. "Never give up. . . never surrender!"

4. "Chinese, Japanese. . . dirty knees. . . look at these!"

Down to the Dirt
I've put Eldest on hold for a week while I'm reading Down to the Dirt by Joel Hynes. It's a slim volume that packs a dramatic punch. The only problem is I took this out of the library and it reeks of cigarette smoke. I love this book so far. Let's see if it holds up to the finish.

Book Trailer
I met with Dave and Demian today to discuss the book trailer and I'm VERY excited. We have a date, a location and actors lined up. We also have a kick-ass musician to do the score. I'll throw out the full details and all the names once it's done. I'm amazed at how many creative people there are in the Mohawk Valley. . . and they all seem to know each other. I guess like minds tend to gravitate towards each other. I plan on sitting back at the film shoot and watching with my mouth shut. I want to let the director do his thing without the annoying writers messing things up with hissy fits.

My Next Project
I'm writing. . . a memoir on my life. I doubt this would interest anybody other than my wife and kids but I'm doing it anyway. I figured my writing needed a change up so I've switched to non-fiction memoir writing. Unlike James Frey, mine is 99.2% true. I can't vouch for it being interesting. I wonder if I want my wife and kids reading about some of things I've done. They think of me as the Clark Kent father figure not someone who, heaven forbid, performed mortal human deeds of vile and unsavory Lex Luthor flavor.

Wanted
My friend Craig recommended the graphic novel Wanted by Mark Millar and I found it a very fascinating character study. A neat concept where all the worlds superheroes are snuffed out and now the world is run by a fraternity of super villains. Gibson leaves his hum-drum life to become "The Killer". Very, very cool!

Quote Answers
1. The Outlaw Josey Wales

2. Mad Max

3. Galaxy Quest

4. The Devil's Rejects

MirrorMask

2006-03-09T14:35:00.000-08:00

One Bizarre Movie
You know something is strange and bizarre when I call it "weird." I watched the movie MirrorMask last night and it was a really cool movie with some of the strangest CGI sequences ever. It was written by Neil Gaiman from the Sandman and used Jim Henson studios. I give this a HUGE webslinger thumbs up. I love creative and cool stuff that throws people off kilter. The concept is a young girl hates her life as a circus performer and dreams herself into this world of unreality.

American Idol
Why am I so addicted to this television show? I love it and can't figure out why. So far my favorites are Chris the bald rocker and Katherine the sable-haired beauty with the silk voice and the face of Madeline Stowe. Simon's comments are my favorite part of the show. The man knows what he's talking about.

One Final Thought on James Frey
Well, he wrote A Million Little Pieces and made millions of dollars. Since Frey's lies hit the world and Oprah's scolding, he's been dropped by his literary agent, dropped by his publisher, his movie deal up in the air and tar and feathered by everyone. I still like the book. My thought is to let a pounded hamburger fry. Or let a. . . Oh forget the bad analogies. I would say that Bruce Willis was right when he said tabloids tell lies every day and nobody cares so cut this sap a break. I have mixed feelings. We'll see what happens with memoirs from now on.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOQRSTUVWXYZ
That's in case you forgot it.

Borderline Eccentric
Well my little brother told me I was "borderline eccentric." Let me tell you that I'm way beyond the pale when it comes to sanity. Poor people like me are called "nuts". "Eccentric" is a term used for rich crazy people like King George or Michael Jackson.

P
Didn't you review above? The "P" is AWOL you bubble-headed booby!!!!!!!

CYB Productions

2006-03-02T16:13:00.000-08:00

Book Trailer
I have to admit that I'm having a blast with my writing life. I met with the talented film director David Dellecese to discuss him shooting and directing a trailer based upon my book Daisy Daring. Check out his movies at www.cybproductions.com . I asked Dave if I could have my cousin Zenna Monaghan play the part of Daisy and he said, "Yes." He's the director so I stay out of the way. He's casting the parts of Jessica Suckling and Shane Loomis. Hopefully, we'll be shooting this :30 to 1:00 trailer very soon. I love interacting with creative people and there's just so many in the Mohawk Valley.

Appearance
Don't forget that I'll be at the Jervis Public Library in Rome, NY on Saturday, March 25, at 2pm. I'll be discussing the Loomis Gang and signing copies of my book.

13 Going on 30
I watched this movie with my wife and I loved it. It's light and fluffy and not meant to be anything other than fun. Jennifer Garner is the standout as the 30 year old woman trapped with her 13 year old mind. I loved the part where she dances like the Thriller video.

Graphic Novel
I'm working with the super talented Craig Rippon on a graphic novel adaptation of a crime novel that I wrote. It's an honor and you'll soon see his artwork on this website. Once in a lifetime you meet somebody with the talent that Craig has. He had worked for DC Comics and it shows in his graphic novel panels.

Amazon and Barnes and Noble
My book is now available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com . You can also go direct to my publisher North Country Books. Their new 2006 catalog is out and I'm thrilled to see my book on page 23.

Zathura

2006-02-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

The Movie Pick of the Week
I watched the movie Zathura and loved it! It's sort of like Jumanji where kids play a game and it comes to life. My kids were clutching each other on some of the scary scenes. I love being able to watch and enjoy movies with my kids. I give this movie the webslinger thumbs up.

Eldest
I'm still reading this LARGE book. I'm a slow reader so it might be awhile before I get to the finish. I keep buying more books that I have to read. They're stacking up next to my computer. I could be like the Twilight Zone episode where the Atom Bomb is dropped and the bookworm has all the time in the world to read all his books. I guess I'm a hopeless geek.

My Next Book
Well Daisy Daring 2 is through and I'm in post production. I'm proofreading it and editing it. I'll have my first readers Evelyn and Linda check it out then my editor friend and then onto the publisher. I don't want to give away the title or premise until I see if North Country Books likes it. I enjoyed writing it and have chuckled several times while reading it. It's funny how I can write something many months ago and forget all about it. When I reread it, it's like someone else wrote it. So the big question is, what's next? I have a historical fiction novel I want to write, or the first installment of my detective series or. . . a memoir? I was seriously thinking of writing a story based on my life. It might turn out to be boring and stupid yet my kids might want to read it when I'm dead and buried. It's immortality when you're published. Your words and thought remain while you rot into dust. As long as someone, somewhere has your book. . . you're immortal - everlasting.